A FORMER landlady who had to give up her pub for health reasons has found solace in painting alternative images of Dales animals and characters.

Jackie Stubbs used to run the George and Dragon community pub in Hudswell, near Richmond, with her mother Margaret.

But after being diagnosed with MS she found the heavy workload was not good for her health and last year stepped down from the helm.

She said: “I used to enjoy art at school but you had a dedicated lesson to get on with it.

“As you get older life gets in the way and I didn’t put time to one side for art.

“When I was running the pub I was diagnosed with MS and unfortunately one of the many symptoms is a disturbed sleep pattern, so I started picking up the paints again.

“I’d also promised my mum I would paint her a sheep - it wouldn’t keep still so instead I painted three comic-style sheep onto box canvases, which also portrayed three of our regular customers.

“Mum allowed me to hang her Christmas presents in the bar and I was astounded by the amount of people asked if they were for sale.”

Ms Stubbs said since taking up her hobby again she has found she has developed her technique and is already taking commissions – giving a donation to the MS Society with every piece she sells.

She said: “Our locals kept telling me to join the local art and craft club and once we left the pub I took up the opportunity.

“It makes me focus on my work and put my time to artistic good use, and at the end of the evening I feel like I have had a therapy session.”

To see Ms Stubbs’ artwork visit her Facebook page Wacky Jackie UK Art, or call 07788-564338.